Window interlock

Abstract

In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a window regulator for a vehicle window on a sliding vehicle door. The window regulator includes a ratchet that is positionable in a first position and a second position and a pawl that is positionable in a ratchet release position and a ratchet locking position. The position of the ratchet determines the position of a door interlock member for controlling whether the vehicle door is fully openable or not. The window regulator includes a mechanism for separating the ratchet and pawl from each other prior to movement of at least one of the ratchet and pawl from one of its associated positions to the other of its associated positions. The mechanism preferably separates the ratchet and pawl from each other prior to movement of each of the ratchet and pawl from one of its associated positions to the other of its associated positions.

1. A window regulator for a vehicle window on a sliding vehicle door, comprising:
 a lifter plate configured to hold the vehicle window and wherein the lifter plate is movable between a fully-open position and a fully-closed position; 
 a window drive mechanism operatively connected to the lifter plate for driving the movement of the lifter plate between the fully-open and fully-closed positions; 
 a ratchet that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the ratchet is biased towards the first position, wherein movement of the ratchet to one of the first and second positions causes movement of a door interlock member to an interlock position to prevent the vehicle door from opening past a selected opening position, and wherein movement of the ratchet to the other of the first and second positions causes movement of the door interlock member to a bypass position to permit the vehicle door to be fully opened, wherein the lifter plate is operatively connected to the ratchet such that movement of the lifter plate at least to a selected position moves the ratchet from the first position to the second position; and 
 a pawl that is movable between a ratchet locking position and a ratchet release position, wherein when the pawl is in the ratchet locking position the pawl holds the ratchet in the second position and when the pawl in the ratchet release position the pawl permits the ratchet to move between the first and second positions, wherein the pawl is biased towards the ratchet locking position, wherein the lifter plate is operatively connected to the pawl to move the pawl between the ratchet locking position and the ratchet release position, and wherein movement of the lifter plate causes at least one movement selected from the group consisting of movement of the pawl away from the ratchet prior to movement of the ratchet away from the first position so as to separate the pawl and the ratchet from each other in the event that the pawl and the ratchet become fixedly connected together, and movement of the ratchet away from the pawl prior to movement of the pawl away from the ratchet locking position so as to separate the pawl and the ratchet from each other in the event that the pawl and the ratchet become fixedly connected together. 
 
     
     
       2. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein movement of the ratchet to the first position causes movement of the door interlock member to the interlock position, and wherein movement of the ratchet to the second position causes movement of the door interlock member to the bypass position,
 and wherein movement of the lifter plate at least to a selected position in a direction towards the fully-open position moves the ratchet from the first position to the second position. 
 
     
     
       3. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the window drive mechanism includes an electric motor and a cable assembly that operatively connects the electric motor to the lifter plate. 
     
     
       4. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that is actuatable by movement of the ratchet from one of the first and second positions to the other of the first and second positions, wherein the state of the sensor indicates to a control device which of the first and second positions the ratchet is in. 
     
     
       5. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein when the ratchet is in the first position and the pawl is in the ratchet release position the pawl is engaged with the ratchet. 
     
     
       6. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a ratchet driving member connected to the lifter plate and positioned to move the ratchet from the first position to the second position during movement of the lifter plate,
 and further comprising a pawl driving member connected to the lifter plate and positioned to move the pawl from the ratchet release position to the ratchet locking position during movement of the lifter plate. 
 
     
     
       7. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the ratchet driving member and the pawl driving member are the same member. 
     
     
       8. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the pawl driving member and the pawl are positioned to initially engage each other at a shallow relative angle. 
     
     
       9. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the pawl driving member has a pawl engagement surface and wherein the pawl has a pawl driving member engagement surface, and wherein the surfaces are free of discontinuities. 
     
     
       10. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the surfaces are engaged with each other throughout movement of the pawl from the ratchet release position to the ratchet locking position. 
     
     
       11. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the surfaces are engaged with each other throughout movement of the pawl from the ratchet locking position to the ratchet release position. 
     
     
       12. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the ratchet driving member has a ratchet engagement surface and wherein the ratchet has a ratchet driving member engagement surface, and wherein the surfaces are free of discontinuous slope changes. 
     
     
       13. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the surfaces are engaged with each other throughout movement of the ratchet from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
       14. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the surfaces are engaged with each other throughout movement of the ratchet from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
       15. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein movement of the lifter plate causes movement of the pawl away from the ratchet prior to movement of the ratchet away from the first position so as to separate the pawl and the ratchet from each other in the event that the pawl and the ratchet become fixedly connected together, and causes movement of the ratchet away from the pawl prior to movement of the pawl away from the ratchet locking position so as to separate the pawl and the ratchet from each other in the event that the pawl and the ratchet become fixedly connected together. 
     
     
       16. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the ratchet driving member and the ratchet are positioned to initially engage each other at a shallow relative angle. 
     
     
       17. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein movement of the lifter plate drives the pawl to move approximately directly away from the ratchet prior to movement of the ratchet away from the first position so as to separate the pawl and the ratchet from each other in the event that the pawl and the ratchet become fixedly connected together. 
     
     
       18. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein movement of the lifter plate drives the ratchet to move approximately directly away from the pawl prior to movement of the pawl away from the ratchet locking position so as to separate the pawl and the ratchet from each other in the event that the pawl and the ratchet become fixedly connected together. 
     
     
       19. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ratchet is connected to a first end of a cable by a lost motion connection, wherein the cable has a second end that is connectable to the door interlock member. 
     
     
       20. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the lost motion connection is configured such that an initial portion of the movement of the ratchet from the first position to the second position generates no movement of the door interlock member away from the bypass position, and a final portion of the movement of the ratchet from the first position to the second position generates movement of the door interlock member to the interlock position. 
     
     
       21. A window regulator as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the window drive mechanism includes a motor, a first arm pivotally connectable to the sliding vehicle door, wherein the first arm has a sector gear thereon that is drivable by the motor, a second arm pivotally connected to the first arm. 
     
     
       22. A window regulator for a vehicle window on a sliding vehicle door, comprising:
 a guide rail; 
 a lifter plate configured to hold the vehicle window and wherein the lifter plate is movable along the guide rail between a fully-open position and a fully-closed position; 
 a window drive mechanism operatively connected to the lifter plate for driving the movement of the lifter plate between the fully-open and fully-closed positions; 
 a door interlock member movable between an interlock position and a bypass position, wherein in the door interlock position the door interlock member is positioned to engage a limit member on the vehicle body and prevent the vehicle door from opening past a selected opening position, and wherein in the bypass position the door interlock member is positioned to bypass the limit member to permit the vehicle door to be fully opened; 
 a ratchet that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the ratchet is biased towards the first position, wherein movement of the ratchet to one of the first and second positions causes movement of the door interlock member to the interlock position, and wherein movement of the ratchet to the other of the first and second positions causes movement of the door interlock member to the bypass position, wherein the lifter plate is operatively connected to the ratchet such that movement of the lifter plate at least to a selected position moves the ratchet from the first position to the second position; and 
 a pawl that is movable between a ratchet locking position and a ratchet release position, wherein when the pawl is in the ratchet locking position the pawl holds the ratchet in the second position and when the pawl in the ratchet release position the pawl permits the ratchet to move between the first and second positions, wherein the pawl is biased towards the ratchet locking position, wherein the lifter plate is operatively connected to the pawl to move the pawl between the ratchet locking position and the ratchet release position, and wherein movement of the lifter plate causes at least one movement selected from the group consisting of movement of the pawl away from the ratchet prior to movement of the ratchet away from the first position so as to separate the pawl and the ratchet from each other in the event that the pawl and the ratchet become fixedly connected together, and movement of the ratchet away from the pawl prior to movement of the pawl away from the ratchet locking position so as to separate the pawl and the ratchet from each other in the event that the pawl and the ratchet become fixedly connected together.